Molded article



(No Model.)

A. O. ESTABROOK. MOLDED ARTIGLE.

No. 497,778. Patented May 23, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALANSON C. ESTABROOK, OF NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MOLDED ARTICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,778, dated May 23, 1893.

Application filed A ril 4. 1892. Renewed October 27, 1892- Serial 110.450.133- (No specimens.)

To wZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALANSON C. ESTABROOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Northampton, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Molded Articles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In the manufacture of brush and mirror backs, paper weights and similar articles, from molded composition, it is desirable for the purposes of ornamentation, or for advertising purposes, or to lessen the expense of the article by lessening the amount of composition employed in its manufacture, to insert in the articlea panel which may be of suitable material. The panel may be so constructed as to bear on its face a portrait or advertisement and it is desirable to be able to construct the molded portion of the article before the panel is applied in order that large quantities of the article may be made and held in readiness to have panels bearing any desired design or ornamentation applied to them. When it ispossible to make the molded portions of the article and keep them in readiness to fill an order calling for such an article provided with a panel of any special design, the manufacture of the molded portion of the article may be carried on at times when the factory in which the articles are made is not busy with other work, and thus their cost may be actually cheapened. To permit of this while at the same time producing a neat and durable paneled article is the chief object of my invention which consists in a molded article recessed to receive a panel, and having the panel secured in said recess as hereinafter set forth, and so as to permit of panels of different sizes being readily secured within the recess in said articles without changing the size of said recess, all as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of the brush back embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 Fig. 1.

The molded portion of the brush back is shown at A and the recess therein which is designed to receive the panel is indicated by the line b. The panel is shown at C, and in the drawings is represented as composed of a backing d and 'a face 6. The face a may be of transparent material underneath which is placed a sheet of paper or some other thin material having thereon a photograph or advertisement or other design, or the photograph or advertisement may be placed on the face of the sheet or layer e which may be of card board, and the face of which may be protected or rendered waterproof by a transparent glaze or a very thin layer of transparent material. Around the edges of the panel C are the retaining strips j, which are of the peculiar shape in cross section shown, and which are designed to fill the space between the edge of the panel and the side of the recess I). These retaining strips are preferably of a thickness equal to the depth of the recess. The upper edge of the retaining strip projects inwardly over the edge of the panel. These strips are made wider or narrower according as the panel is smaller or larger. In this way by the employment of a wider retaining strip, a panel of much smaller size may be used so that brush backs made in quantities and all having the same sized recess may be supplied with panels of varying size. This is a matter of great convenience and serves to materially lessen the cost of construction. The retaining strip f is preferably made from composition which is molded in strips having a shape in cross section similar to that shown in Fig. 2. The strip when used is placed in the space around the panel and firmly secured preferably by the aid of adhesive material, or, if the composition strip be used before it becomes thoroughly hardened, it may be pressed into place and neatly fitted and adhesive material will not be required. It will be obvious that by deepening the recess b and employing a panel with a thick back the amount of composition used in making the molded portion A of the article may be reduced to a minimum and its cost cheapened without impairing its efficiency.

What I claim is- An article made from molded composition having a recess to receive a panel, a panel In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein placed in said recess and secured therein by presence of two wltnesses.

means of the retainim strip f which fills the T 1 T space between the edges of the panel and the ALA} SON ILSTABROOX' 5 sides of the recess and one portion of which Witnesses:

overlaps the edge of the panel, substantially GEORGE N. BAKER,

as shown and described. FRANK. E. MAIN. 

